The sun., 1887-11-03


forth. He reached the sinokehouse
there was NO one in it; there WAS =
gap, though, where tour long flitches
OF bacon had been!
John Pontiac's wife saw him 90 over
to the storehouse. the door OF which
was open, too. He looked in. then
stopped and started back as il in hor.
ror. Four fitches tied together with
rope were on the floor and inside
was q man filling a bag with -four
from a barrel.
"Well, we'll. this is a terrible thing, /"
said old John Pontiac to himself,
shrinking around the corner. "Peter
McGrathl Oh, myl Oh, myl'
He became hot all over, as if he had
done something disgraceful himself.
There was nobody that he had respect
ed more than that pig-headed Peter.
What to do? He mus punish him,
OF course; but how? Jail-and him
with eleven children! "Oh, my! Oh,
myp' Old John almost wished he
had not been awakened to see this
terrible downfall.
at will never do to let him 90 of
with it" he said to himself after q lit
tie reflection. "Pll put him so that
he'll know better than that another
time."
Peter McGrath, as he entered the
storehouse, had felt that bacon heav-
ier than the heaviest end of the big
gest stick oftlmber he had ever helped
to cart. He felt guilty, sneaking, dis.
graced; he felt that the literal Devil
had first tempted him near the house,
then all suddenly-with his own
hunger pangs and thoughts of his
starving family-swept him into the
smoke-house to steal. But he had
consented to do it, he had said he
would take flour too-and he would
he was so obstinate! And withal he
hated old John Pontiac worse than
ever, for now he accused him OF being
the cause of his coming to this.
Then all of sudden he met the face
of Pontiac looking in at the door.
Peter sprang back-he saw Stam-
brook jail-he saw his eleven children
and his wife-he felt himselfa detected
felon. and that was worst of all.
"Well, Peter, you'd ought to have
come right in," were the words that
came to his amazed ears, in John
Pontiac's heartiest voice. "The mis-
sis would have been glad to see you.
We did go to bed bit early, but there
wouldn't have been any harm in an
old neighbor like you waking us up"
"Not q word of that-hold on! list
en- to me. 1t would be pity if old
friends like you and me, Peter,
couldn't help one another to q trifiing
loan of provisions without making a
fuss over it," And old John, taking
up the scoop. went on filling the bag
as if that were q matter of course.
Peter did not sp"ak-he could not.
II was going around to your place
tomorrow, resumed John cheeriully,
''to see if couldn't hire you again.
There's a job OF hewing for you in the
Conlongo shanty-a mans gone of
sick. But / can't give more'n twenty
two, or say twenty three, seeing
you're an old neighbor. What do you
say?"
Peter still said nothing-he was
choking.
"You had better have a bit of some
thing more than bacon and -four, Pc
ter" he went on, land I'll give you a
hand to carry the truck home. 1guess
your wife won't mind seeing me with
you-then she'll know you've taken a
job with me again, you see. Come
along and give me hand to hitch the
mare up. I'll drive you down."
"Ah-ah-Boss-Boss!" spoke Peter
then. with terrible gasps between.
'Boss-O my God, Mr.. Ponfiac-I
can't never look you-in the face
againl'
"Peter McGrath-old reiehbor"-
and John Pontiac laid his hand on the
shaking shoulder, II guess know all
about it; guess I do. Sometimes a
man is driven he don't know how.
Now we will say no more ABOUT it. I'll
load up, and you come right along
with me. And mind. I'll do the talk
ing to your wife"